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Internalization and cytotoxicity of polystyrene microplastics in human umbilical vein endothelial cells
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Researchers investigated the uptake and toxicity of 1-micrometer polystyrene microplastics in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. The study found that interaction between the cells and microplastics was very low, with less than 4% of cells taking up particles even at high concentrations, and no significant inflammation, autophagy, or oxidative stress responses were observed at tested exposure levels.
Ubiquitous micro(nano)plastics (MNPs) are emerging environmental pollutants, which pose a potential threat to human health. When MNPs enter the blood circulatory system, vascular endothelium is one of the most important target organs that directly interact with the MNPs. However, little is known about the cytotoxicity of MNPs to vascular endothelial cells. In this study, we investigated the uptake and cytotoxic effects of polystyrene MNPs with a particle size of 1 μm (1-μm PS-MNPs) on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in vitro. Our study found that interaction between HUVECs and 1-μm PS-MNPs was at a very low level. Even at the high exposure concentration of 25 μg/mL, the percentage of HUVECs combined with fluorescent 1-μm PS-MNPs was only 3.80% using flow cytometry analysis. Moreover, there were no significant differences in inflammation, autophagy, reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, and adhesion molecule expression following exposure to 1-μm PS-MNPs (5, 10, and 25 μg/mL) for 48 h, except for a remarkable decrease in cell viability at the extremely high concentration of 100 μg/mL. Herein, 1-μm PS-MNPs showed a low level of acute toxicity to HUVECs in vitro, and we expect these results contribute to the further risk assessment of MNPs on human health.
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Adverse effect of polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) on tube formation and viability of human umbilical vein endothelial cells
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Researchers tested the effects of polystyrene microplastics on human blood vessel cells grown in the laboratory and found that the particles reduced cell survival and inhibited the formation of new blood vessel structures. Smaller microplastics accumulated inside the cells more readily and triggered cell death through autophagy and necrosis. The study suggests that microplastics entering the bloodstream could potentially interfere with normal vascular function.
Exposure of microplastic at levels relevant for human health : cytotoxicity and cellular localization of polystyrene microparticles in four human cell lines
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Researchers tested the cytotoxicity of polystyrene microplastics on four human cell lines at concentrations relevant to real-world human exposure from food, water, and packaging. At environmentally realistic doses, microplastics were taken up by cells but did not cause significant toxicity, though higher concentrations did produce cell damage, suggesting that current exposure levels may be near a threshold of concern.
Size-dependent effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on autophagy response in human umbilical vein endothelial cells
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Researchers studied how polystyrene nanoplastics of two different sizes affect human umbilical vein endothelial cells, focusing on a cellular cleanup process called autophagy. They found that smaller nanoplastics were taken up by cells more readily and caused greater disruption to autophagy function than larger particles. The study suggests that nanoplastic size is a critical factor in determining cardiovascular health risks, as these particles can impair the cells lining blood vessels.
Evaluation of toxicity of polystyrene microplastics under realistic exposure levels in human vascular endothelial EA.hy926 cells
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Researchers exposed human vascular endothelial cells to polystyrene microplastics at concentrations comparable to levels detected in human blood. They found that the microplastics caused oxidative stress, reduced antioxidant defenses, and triggered apoptosis in the vascular cells. The study suggests that microplastics circulating in the bloodstream at realistic concentrations may contribute to vascular damage by impairing cellular protective mechanisms.
Effect of Polystyrene Microplastics on Tube Formation and Viability of Endothelial Cells
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Lab experiments found that polystyrene microplastics impaired the ability of human endothelial cells (which line blood vessels) to form tube-like structures and reduced cell viability at higher concentrations. This is early evidence that microplastics entering the bloodstream may damage vascular cells, with potential implications for cardiovascular health.
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